Etched suspension system

Abstract

A head suspension assembly comprises a load beam, flexure, and a transducer assembly. The transducer assembly is attached to a gimbal section of the flexure. A flexible section comprising two legs, supports the gimbal section. Two longitudinal grooves are etched into the center portions of each of the legs. A flexure is obtained which provides for adequate vertical bending, while at the same time provides rigidity to prevent horizontal bending.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A suspension system comprising: a support member;   a load member; and   a suspension member connecting the load member to the support member, the suspension member having a first surface having a recess therein at a point where bending is desirable, the recess passing only partially through the suspension member, the recess having a bottom side thickness less than the thickness of the surrounding suspension member, and the recess intersecting only the first surface.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1, wherein the load member is a transducer element. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1, wherein the suspension member is a flexure. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 1, wherein the suspension member is a load beam of a head suspension assembly. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 1, wherein the depth and width of the recess is such that the moment of inertia about a lateral axis of the suspension member is in the range of 40-90% of the moment of inertia about the lateral axis of a similar suspension member which does not have a recess. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 1, wherein the depth of the recess is in the range of 40-85% of the thickness of the surrounding suspension material. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 1, wherein the width of the recess is in the range of 20-80% of the width of the surrounding suspension member. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 1, wherein the recess is formed by an etch process. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 1, wherein the suspension member at the recess has a cross section of an integral material. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 9, wherein the integral material is stainless steel. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 1, wherein the load member is a transducer element, and the system further comprises a data recording medium located proximate to the transducer element, and a movement means for moving the transducer element relative to the medium. 
     
     
       12. A suspension system comprising: a load beam;   a flexure connected to the load beam, the flexure having an aperture surrounded by two side sections and an end section, a tab section extending from the end section into the aperture, the tab section for connection to a transducer element, the two side sections each having a recess formed in a first surface thereof, each recess passing only partially through the side section, each recess having a bottom side thickness less than the thickness of the surrounding side section, and each recess intersecting only the first surface.   
     
     
       13. The system of claim 12, wherein the depth and width of the recesses are such that the moment of inertia about a lateral axis of each side section is in the range of 40-90% of the moment of inertia about the lateral axis of a similar side section which does not have a recess. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 12, wherein the depth of each recess is in the range of 40-85% of the thickness of the surrounding side section. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 12, wherein the width of each recess is in the range of 20-80% of the width of the surrounding side section. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 12, wherein the recesses are formed by a photolithographic etch process. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 12, wherein each side section has a cross section, at the recess, of an integral material. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim 17, wherein the integral material is stainless steel. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim 12, further comprising an air bearing slider connected between the flexure and the transducer element. 
     
     
       20. The system of claim 12, wherein the recess is a groove. 
     
     
       21. The system of claim 12, further comprising a transducer element connected to the tab section. 
     
     
       22. A data storage system comprising: a load beam;   a flexure connected to the load beam, the flexure having an aperture surrounded by two side sections and an end section, a tab section extending from the end section into the aperture, the two side sections each having a recess formed in a first surface thereof, each recess passing only partially through the side section, each recess having a bottom side thickness less than the thickness of the surrounding side section, and each recess intersecting only the first surface;   a transducer element connected to the tab section;   a data recording disk located proximate to the transducer element;   a rotation means connected to the disk for rotating the disk; and   a movement means connected to the load beam for moving the transducer element relative to the disk.   
     
     
       23. The system of claim 22, wherein the depth and width of the recesses are such that the moment of inertia about a lateral axis of each side section is in the range of 40-90% of the moment of inertia about the lateral axis of a similar side section which does not have a recess. 
     
     
       24. The system of claim 22, wherein the depth of each recess is in the range of 40-85% of the thickness of the surrounding side section. 
     
     
       25. The system of claim 22, wherein the width of each recess is in the range of 20-80% of the width of the surrounding side section. 
     
     
       26. The system of claim 22, wherein the recesses are formed by a photolithographic etch process. 
     
     
       27. The system of claim 22, wherein each side section has a cross section, at the recess, of an integral material. 
     
     
       28. The system of claim 27, wherein the integral material is stainless steel. 
     
     
       29. The system of claim 22, further comprising an air bearing slider connected between the flexure and the transducer element. 
     
     
       30. The system of claim 22, wherein the recess is a groove. 
     
     
       31. A suspension system comprising: a load beam having a longitudinal axis and having a spring section for bending, the spring section having a recess formed in a first surface thereof, the recess oriented along a lateral axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the recess passing only partially through the load beam, the recess having a bottom side thickness less than the thickness of the surrounding load beam, and the recess intersecting only the first surface; and   a flexure connected to the load beam for connection to a transducer element.   
     
     
       32. The system of claim 31, wherein the depth and width of the recess is such that the moment of inertia about the lateral axis of the load beam is in the range of 40-90% of the moment of inertia about the lateral axis of a similar load beam which does not have a recess. 
     
     
       33. The system of claim 31, wherein the depth of the recess is in the range of 40-85% of the thickness of the surrounding load beam. 
     
     
       34. The system of claim 31, wherein the width of the recess is in the range of 20-80% of the width of the surrounding load beam. 
     
     
       35. The system of claim 31, wherein the recess is formed by a photolithographic etch process. 
     
     
       36. The system of claim 31, wherein the load beam has a cross section, at the recess, of an integral material. 
     
     
       37. The system of claim 36, wherein the integral material is stainless steel. 
     
     
       38. The system of claim 31, further comprising an air bearing slider connected between the flexure and the transducer element. 
     
     
       39. The system of claim 31, wherein the recess is a groove. 
     
     
       40. The system of claim 31, further comprising a transducer element connected to the flexure. 
     
     
       41. A data storage system comprising: a load beam having a longitudinal axis and having a spring section for bending, the spring section having a recess formed in a first surface thereof, the recess oriented along a lateral axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the recess passing only partially through the load beam, the recess having a bottom side thickness less than the thickness of the surrounding side section, and the recess intersecting only the first surface;   a flexure connected to the load beam;   a transducer element connected to the flexure;   a data recording disk located proximate to the transducer element;   a rotation means connected to the disk for rotating the disk; and   a movement means connected to the load beam for moving the transducer element relative to the disk.   
     
     
       42. The system of claim 41, wherein the depth and width of the recess is such that the moment of inertia about a lateral axis of the load beam is in the range of 40-90% of the moment of inertia about the lateral axis of a similar load beam which does not have a recess. 
     
     
       43. The system of claim 41, wherein the depth of the recess is in the range of 40-85% of the thickness of the surrounding load beam. 
     
     
       44. The system of claim 41, wherein the width of the recess is in the range of 20-80% of the width of the surrounding load beam. 
     
     
       45. The system of claim 41, wherein the recess is formed by a photolithographic etch process. 
     
     
       46. The system of claim 41, wherein the load beam has a cross section, at the recess, of an integral material. 
     
     
       47. The system of claim 46, wherein the integral material is stainless steel. 
     
     
       48. The system of claim 41, further comprising an air bearing slider connected between the flexure and the transducer element. 
     
     
       49. The system of claim 41, wherein the recess is a groove.